It was an auspicious start for young Dylan Hunter. Here were the London Knights playing their first game in the brand-new John Labatt Centre. And Dylan, son of head coach Dale Hunter, would score the first goal.

Then, things went sideways.

The kid struggled in practice. He struggled in games. The boo-birds went into action and the thrust of their derision often related to family ties. His dad was also part-owner, after all.

That was three seasons ago.

Today, Dylan speaks of his introduction to major junior hockey as a series of hurdles he had to overcome, obstacles that merely served to make him work harder.

A bright and engaging 19-year-old, Hunter freely admits what folks around the club felt was holding him back when they said he'd be gasping after one rink-long rush.

"I wasn't in shape," he said this week, proving he obviously is now following a five-games-in-five-nights run with the Knights and the OHL all-stars.

"I was never forced to be in shape before. It's not like you're going to the gym every day, and it was a big change."

Going into last night's game against Windsor, Hunter was second in OHL scoring behind teammate Corey Perry with 15 goals and 33 assists. His presence on and off the ice has silenced critics.

His deft touch has presented a wealth of scoring opportunities for the team.

It's not easy for sons to follow fathers into sports, even more difficult when their father happens to be head coach. Charges of nepotism and favouritism are never far away.

Ask Western Mustangs head coach Larry Haylor, whose sons Jordan and Matt were on the football team.

"It can be difficult because there are two groups out there watching, one within the team and one among the fans," Haylor said.

"You can be too demanding. You have to try hard to distinguish between your role as a father and as a coach so that there is no ambiguity. They (the sons) have to co-operate, too.

"I'm sure Dale and Dylan have it worked out."

Dale Hunter says he looks upon his team as 25 sons and his own is one of them. If Dale Hunter barks at Dylan Hunter, he's barking at the player, not the son.

"It hasn't been a problem," the coach said. "I don't treat Dylan any differently than anyone else on the team. I could see it as being difficult for a young coach without kids. They do test you. So I look upon it as being the father of 25 teenagers. If you know anything about teenagers, they can be a trial at times."

Dylan says the ground rules were set early.

"Before I came in, we both agreed it would be a player to coach thing and no special treatment. If he has to yell at me, he has to yell at me.

"It was kind of hard, but I got used to it playing summer hockey with my uncles."

In other words, hockey first, family ties second.

Not that there weren't enough reminders at the start.

"At first, there'd be guys on the other team chirping about you getting special treatment and saying that the only reason you're around is because of your dad," he said.

"But what it does is make you work harder to prove you're there for a reason and have something to add to the team, not because you're the coach's son."

Evidence of the right-winger's development is obvious. A gifted playmaker, he is drawing the tightest checking of his life.

But Dylan Hunter was destined to be a professional hockey player, which the Buffalo Sabres draft pick will be one day be, once the NHL gets rolling again.

His first memories are of rinks and ice and hockey sticks. Since his dad played in the NHL for 19 seasons, he got to see a lot of games and practices.

"I went to pretty much every home game in Washington. It was a wonderful experience seeing all those great players. I remember going to the rink, the old Cap Center, with my dad. I was around four years old and it was the biggest place in the world."

It wasn't long after he was on the ice with the pros. He went to the Washington camp a year-and-a-half ago as a free agent along with fellow Knight Danny Syvret.

"It was a great experience. You look up and there's Jaromir Jagr and you ask yourself, 'What am I doing here?' when you're going in to take a shot on Olaf Kolzig.

"I was pretty nervous at first but I came away thinking that all these guys are NHLers and are really good but that I could at least keep up to them. It was valuable."

Growing up in a hockey culture helped draw a road map for his future.

The younger Hunter is considered a student of the game and pays close attention to videos, especially opposing power plays.

From patriarch Dick Hunter on down, he has been witness to a steady stream of hockey strategy and lore pretty well since he could understand the spoken word.

He listens to critiques of his play from observers and values mother Karynka's views.

"As far back as I can remember, everybody -- my dad, grandpa and the rest -- would be involved in discussions around the dinner table about what NHL teams should use the trap and things like that," Dylan says. "At Christmas dinner, there's always talk about the world junior tournament, a couple of arguments about how they should have played a game and that type of thing."

Speaking of Christmas, it's celebrated by the entire Hunter family.

"There's always a road hockey game in the barn and we all get into it, uncles, cousins, everybody. We always get the youngest kid to go in net."

But this is one Christmas he wouldn't mind missing. It would mean he was selected to the Team Canada juniors playing in the world championship.

This has been a dream season for Dylan Hunter. He is making his mark with a powerful team and will be playing in the Memorial Cup here in the spring.

"It has been pretty exciting. We opened the season with high expectations but nothing like (their undefeated streak). It's way more exciting than I imagined. It's fun to play. Everyone comes at us harder to try and break that streak, but those kind of challenges are good for us. It gives us more confidence."

Even the best efforts of the opposition weren't enough as last night's game approached. A week ago, the Barrie Colts played exceptionally well to earn an early 2-0 lead. The Knights regrouped and simply overpowered them in the third period.

"After the game, B.J. (Crombeen, a former junior B teammate) said it was Barrie's best game of the season," Hunter said.

Dylan Hunter and the rest of the Knights are going to see a lot of best games from opponents this year.